Month: July 2021

The contractor for the City of #Kirksville, began cleaning and lining existing sanitary sewer mains and manholes at various locations throughout the City last week, and the work willcontinue through September 22nd. Each year, the City performs maintenance work on existing sewer mains to extend the life of the system and its operation. Cleaning equipment will access the sewer mains through the service manholes located within the street right-of-way. The City reminds those driving in the area that traffic control will be in effect.Be sure to use caution, drive slowly through work areas, and utilize alternate routes when possible. For more information, please contact the Engineering Department at 660.627.1272.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will participate in “Operation CARE” and Operation Dry Water, for the July Fourth holiday weekend. The 2021 counting period for the July Fourth holiday starts at 6 p.m, and lasts through 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 5th. During the 2020 counting period, 15 people were killed and 671 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,356 traffic crashes. Troopers arrested 145 people for driving while intoxicated. There were 14 boating crashes, which included seven injuries. Two people drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday. Troopers made six boating while intoxicated arrests. Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers to make smart choices for a safe July Fourth holiday.

After confirming only 20 COVID-19 cases throughout the month of May, the Adair County Health Department confirmed 79 cases in June. As of yesterday, the total case
count reached 2,563. There are currently 44 active cases. Nine new cases closed out the month on June 30, and seven new cases were confirmed on the first day of July. One person, a 91-year-old woman, was admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center. She does not need a ventilator.

The Health Department has been notified that two cases confirmed in April were positive for the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom. The cases involve a 34-year-old male who tested positive April 1 and a 22-year-old male who tested positive April 2.

The All-American Red White and Blue Festival kicked off last night with Cemetery Theater. Events still to come include the Red, White and Blue Pancake Breakfast, Community Band Concert, Summer on the Square Concert, the Classic Car Show, Apple Pie Contest and the Fireworks Display at dusk on July 4th. See the full schedule online at: visitkirksville.com/redwhiteandblue.

The Missouri House sent renewal of a major tax that funds the state’s Medicaid program to Governor Mike Parson yesterday. If the Federal Reimbursement Allowance tax was not approved, the Governor said he would need to make deep budget cuts. A deadlock over abortion and birth control funding killed the renewal bill in the regular session that ended May 14. The bill that passed during this special session includes a restatement of the state’s current ban on using public funds to pay for abortions and does not attempt to bar Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider. Passage of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance paves the way for Governor Parson to sign the $35 billion budget approved by lawmakers.

The Knox County Health Department has received confirmation from the State of Missouri that the COVID-19 British Variant B.1.1.7 is present in Knox County. This variant was first detected in the U.S. in December. Based on data, variant B.1.1.7 is the most common variant across the country. This variant seems to spread more easliy and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. Health officials say vaccination is the most effective and long-lasting tool for protection from this infection.

There were 22 new cases of COVID-19 from June 23 – June 29 in Macon County. Currently, there are 28 active cases with 7 residents hospitalized. Of these 22 new cases, 4 were vaccinated and 1 was a reinfection who was not vaccinated.
Macon County is continuing an upward trend in cases in mainly unvaccinated residents. Of the last 127 new cases, only 6 were vaccinated. The health department says that In April Macon County had an average of 6 new cases each week; May had an average of 9.5 new cases each week; and, June so far, is averaging 20.5 new cases each week.